Early Christmas Presence - Day 5
Early Christmas Presence
~Elizabeth~
Early Christmas Presence- The Presence of Jesus brought confession from Elizabeth that Jesus was Lord and that brought further encouragement and praise.
Luke 1:39-45 (NIV)—"At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
A woman opposite the circumstances of Mary—presently married, formerly barren, yet chosen by God to carry John the Baptist—the prophet who would proclaim Jesus ahead of His public ministry.
I love God’s goodness and provision here to both Mary and Elizabeth: two women in impossible pregnancies, blessed with each other’s company, not forced to navigate unchartered territory alone. God just knows that women need each other for the highs and lows that make up the journey of life—and relationships that produce revelation of Him are the absolute best.
That’s what happens here.
Mary goes to visit Elizabeth early in her pregnancy and upon entering Elizabeth’s home, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and praises unseen — “bump-like” Jesus in the womb and declares, “BLESSED IS THE FRUIT OF YOUR WOMB! And why is this granted to me that the mother of MY LORD should come to visit me?
The significance of this verse is not about Mary—it is about the first recorded confession of Jesus as Lord and the huge amount of faith displayed by Elizabeth. A confession led by the Holy Spirit and full of praise, humility and prophecy.
Pause for a second with me.
The only thing crazier than Mary believing she was carrying the Son of God, was Elizabeth believing Mary was carrying the Son of God.
Is that amazing or what? One woman of faith calling out the miracle inside another woman of faith. Believing for her, believing with her and blessing Him.
The Holy Spirit alone revealed the Lordship of Jesus to Elizabeth, but I think she readily recognized the miraculous in someone else’s life because she was aware and grateful for the miraculous in her own life.
Bobbie Houston refers to their exchange as, “the promise inside of one leaping with joy for the promise within the other.”
Ladies let’s be this kind of woman—exalting high the Presence of and work of the Lord in the lives of others around us. And all in a humble but praiseworthy demeanor.
The response by Mary to Elizabeth’s praise was that Mary begins to sing, worship and prophesy.
When we have any measure of revelation about
the Lordship of Jesus Christ—we should encourage others
with it so that His name may be exalted and lifted high.
Reflection:
How did Jesus reveal Himself as Lord in your life?
Have you ever had someone recognize and comment on promise in your life?
Who is a woman in your life that you need to encourage and spur on to good works, by calling out the work God is doing in her life? Does anyone come to mind?